The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have paid tribute to Dame Deborah James after she died aged 40 following a five-year battle with bowel cancer.
Following the heartbreaking news, Prince William and Kate Middleton shared a touching joint statement on Twitter which reads: "We are so sad to hear the heartbreaking news about Dame Deborah. Our thoughts are with her children, her family and her loved ones.
"Deborah was an inspirational and unfalteringly brave woman whose legacy will live on. W & C".
Prince William visited Deborah at her family's home in Woking, Surrey in May to present her Damehood. The emotional moment was shared on Instagram, with Deborah writing 'he's welcome back any time!' after enjoying 'afternoon tea and champagne'.
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The caption reads: "Prince William actually came to our family house today!! I am utterly honoured that he joined us for afternoon tea and champagne, where he not only spent a generous amount of time talking to my whole family but also honoured me with my Damehood.
"It’s quite surreal having a royal pop in at home, and yes you can imagine the cleaning antics and preparation went off the scale - but it was all irrelevant because William was so kind and he put us all at ease."
She continued: "He is clearly passionate about improving oncology outcomes as the President of the Royal Marsden. It was such a special day for my whole family, making memories to last a lifetime. He’s welcome back any time!"
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Deborah died on Tuesday (28 June) surrounded by her loved ones, with her family announcing her death in a statement.
"Dame Deborah James. We are deeply saddened to announce the death of Dame Deborah James; the most amazing wife, daughter, sister, mummy. Deborah passed away peacefully today, surrounded by her family," the statement read.
"Deborah, who many of you will know as Bowelbabe, was an inspiration and we are incredibly proud of her and her work and commitment to charitable campaigning, fundraising and her endless efforts to raise awareness of cancer that touched so many lives.
"Deborah shared her experience with the world to raise awareness, break down barriers, challenge taboos and change the conversation around cancer. Even in her most challenging moments, her determination to raise money and awareness was inspiring.
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"We thank you for giving us time in private as a family, and we look forward to continuing Deborah’s legacy long into the future through the @bowelbabefund.
"Thank you for playing your part in her journey, you are all incredible.
"And a few final things from Deborah…'find a life worth enjoying; take risks; love deeply; have no regrets; and always, always have rebellious hope. And finally, check your poo – it could just save your life.' x."
You can donate to the Bowelbabe fund here.
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If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact Macmillan’s Cancer Support Line on 0808 808 00 00, 8am–8pm seven days a week
Featured Image Credit: Instagram/BowelbabeTopics: Health, News, Royal Family, Prince William, Kate Middleton
